Corvair Enthusiast Looks To Buy By Greg Zyla

Q: I love the old Chevy Corvairs and am hoping to buy one. What do you think about the Corvair as a collector car? They seem to be very reasonably priced. Robert L., New York.

A: Robert, Corvairs are reasonable in price, so if you love them, you're in good shape as far as money needed to fuel your passion.

I've always personally liked Corvairs because of the car's unique rear-engine, rear-drive technology, regardless of what Ralph Nader said about the car in his book.

Specifically, Corvairs received a "bad rap" from Ralph Nader when he wrote the book "Unsafe At Any Speed," which knocked the car as one of the most dangerous ever built. This wasn't really true, for as long as you followed the manufacturer's recommended tire pressures, 15 pounds in front, 26 pounds in the rear, the car wouldn't "sway" in the rear much at all.

However, in Ralph’s defense, we all know how people check their tires pressures, right? In the end, it took a Congressional Investigation and Report to clear GM and the 1960-1963 Corvairs of any wrong doing, although the absolution came three years after the car's 10-year production run ended in 1969.

Corvairs are neat cars and certainly collector worthy. They'll never be top value collector cars, but models like the Monza Spyder Convertible Turbo or even a regular Corvair convertible or coupe are priced to buy. I remember seeing a Corvair Convertible completely restored in showroom condition in the Auto/Truck Round-Up Monthly for less than $10,000 (I believe it was $8,500.)

My favorites? The Spyder from ‘62 through ’64 and the Corsa in ’65 and ‘66, the latter a little better looking overall. Corvair’s “flat” six cylinder engines grew from 140 inches in 1960, to 145 in 1961 through 1963 and finally 164 cubic inches from 1964-1969.

Also, don't forget the Lakewood Station Wagons or the very neat Greenbrier Sports Wagon passenger vans. Good luck in your search for a really neat car from the past. Expect to pay for a near show quality Corvair anywhere from a low of less than $6,000 for a 4-door sedan (yes, under $6,000) to perhaps $18,000 for a restored Spyder Turbo ragtop.

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